Are they a lot cheaper than actual LEOs? I presumed that going rates would be similar. And I guess the "spicier" question is, are they cheaper than a bus operator?
This isn't exactly a direct source, but it's listing the hourly pay at 25.26$.
You wouldn't even need them to ride every single bus, just enough to deter weird behavior.
Even if hypothetically they cost as much as a real bus driver, this would be much safer. A bus driver doing overtime and possibly texting people isn't too hard to beat.
LA metro has a stage below them called "ambassadors" who walk around with ipads, presumably to help people navigate the system and also call for maintenance or security should there be a need. From what I can gleam they are paid $25/hr.
I feel like a kid making minimum wage sitting at the back of the bus won't command much authority, or be willing to do much more than literally just tell people not to act stupid.
That would be much cheaper than a union bus driver who can clear 100k.
Safer too since bus drivers often go tons of overtime which isn't great for being alert.